Section 1
The technical setup
- Camera at eye level — stack books under the laptop.
- Face a window if you can. Never sit with a window behind you.
- Wired earphones with a mic beat laptop speakers every time.
- Test the platform (Teams, Zoom, HireVue) an hour before, not five minutes.
- Close every app you don't need. Notifications ruin flow.
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Section 2
Live video interviews
Treat it like an in-person interview with two adjustments: look at the camera lens (not the face on screen) for key points, and pause slightly longer than feels natural to leave room for latency.
Recruiter insight
The candidate who looks into the lens feels like they're speaking to me. The one who watches themselves in the corner feels like they're auditioning.
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Section 3
Pre-recorded (HireVue-style)
You read a question, get 30 seconds prep, then record a 1–2 minute answer. No do-overs (usually).
- Prep every classic question in 60-second form before the day.
- Structure out loud: signpost, evidence, land.
- Smile at the lens for the first two seconds — it sets the tone.
- If it lets you re-record, don't panic on take one. Use it as calibration.
Weak
"Delivering a rambling story with no structure, running out of time mid-sentence."
Better
"'Three things: what happened, what I did, what I'd change. First…' — landing under time."
Why this works — AI-scored assessments reward clear structure and vocal energy. A tidy answer beats a longer one.
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Section 4
Common mistakes
- Backlit face — you look like a hostage silhouette.
- Notes taped to the screen — you can see the eyes darting.
- Reading verbatim from prepared answers.
- Wearing something that clashes visually with the background.
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Section 5
Ten minutes before you record
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